I am no hero. I will say this now. I never will be. If you come away from this thinking that I am in fact a hero, we are not friends. Nor will we ever be. So I shall say it again. I am no hero.
My name is Selena Harvey, and God help anyone that crosses me. Now, you're probably thinking that I'm a wrong'un, an outcast to society. You're probably right. However, you do not know me. I will let you make your own mind up as to whether I am a friend or a foe.
I am currently working for the British Army as an escort. If you're a soldier and you need to get somewhere, I'm the guy you're looking for. This isn't what I set out to do with my life. I was an English teacher at Evangeline Woods Secondary School. I loved it, until the world turned my life sour and cold, and did the same to me in the process. I may fill you in on that little side story once I feel comfortable with you as it seems we may be spending some time together.
I still remember my first day as an escort. Hell, I even remember the day I applied. Mother wasn't pleased. I didn't expect her to be. Father didn't care. I remember it clear as day.
"I'm joining the Army".
"You're what?" My Mother cried as she dropped her copy of the latest Cosmopolitan magazine. "W-What about your job? You love teaching, what about your students? How will they pass their exams without you?"
"Mother, there's nothing anyone can do now. My students will be fine, they're going to get a new teacher, they don't need me" I said sternly. I couldn't be doing with her wining at me. She always had to know everything. She'd squeeze very little detail she could out from you.
"Is this all because of James? Darling if you need someone to ta-"
"Don't say his name ever again! He's dead, Mother! Get over it... I have."
I walked out quickly, passing my father in his armchair. He reached out and grabbed my arm.
"The Army? What made you choose that over teaching?" He asked me.
"Unfinished business" I replied.
Only half of his face smiled. He knew what I wanted to say but didn't want to upset me further. He's always cared about me, but never made that known to many people.
He was a drunk and my mother was a secretary at the Hilton Hotel. Part of me thinks she worked there to feel like she was better than others, when in reality she's come from a council estate. Born to a woman who was fifteen years of age when she gave birth, and only just fifteen may I add. I'd never wanted to end up like my mother. I especially didn't want to end up like my mother's mother. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the perfect daughter, I never will be. However, I've done a lot better for myself than both of them put together. My Father on the other hand was a mechanic. He got made redundant and now fuels his wallowing self pity with Carling. My older brother, Sylvester, didn't know at this point. He'd been away in Italy studying different building structures. He's been an architect for two years now and he loves every second of it. What he loves the most is getting away from this place. Away from mother, from father. It must be bliss. He's always been very distant from our parents. Mother was never proud of him if he didn't do as she wanted. She seemed to plan how she wanted our lives to play out. Needless to say neither of us played a part in her game. When Sylvester was born, all the nurses instantly noticed his silvery white hair and his fern green eyes. That's where the name Sylvester came from. It's Roman for "of the forest".
